Collapsible assembly for box structures



Dec- 25, 1956 E. M RUGG COLLAP'SIBLE ASSEMBLY FOR BOX STRUCTURES `Filed Nov. 15, 1954 fdzzzar E. Weiz/22 zggjg United States Patent() coLLAPsnsLn ASSEMBLY non Box STRUCTURES E. Melvin Rugg, Chicago, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 15, 1954, Serial No. 468,817

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-41) This invention relates to a collapsible box structure. More particularly the invention relates to a collapsible wall assembly used in connection with a box-like container.

It is a primary object of `this invention to provide an improved wall assembly for collapsible containers, the wall assembly being particularly adaptable for boxes of the paper-board type.

A still further object is to provide an improved collapsible paper-board wall assembly having improved corner reinforcements adapted to reinforce and support the assembly during normal use.

Still another object i-s to provide an improved collapsible -wall assembly having tubular-like corner reinforcements, the said reinforcements being of collapsible construction .to permit quick and easy collapse of .the collapsible wall assembly.

A still further object is to provide an improved collapsible wall assembly of the type used in paper-board boxes, the said assembly including tubular corner reinforcements eac-h having individual wall sections adapted .to be hingedly collapsed during the collapse of said assembly.

These and further objects will become more readily apparent from `a reading of the specification when examined in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective View of a collapsible wall assembly for paperboard boxes showing the assembly in a normal uri-collapsed position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 1, of the collapsible wall assembly showing the same in a state of partial collapse;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a collapsible wall assembly showing its collapsed position;

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of a collapsible wall assembly in normal use position including Itop and bottom closure members; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view of a portion of a box assembly taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 and 2, a collapsible wall .assembly is indicated by the reference character 10. The wall assembly comprises side walls 11 and 12 hingedly connected Itogether at hinge or score lines 12. The type of material that may be utilized in this particular assembly may be of the cardboard or paperboard type. This ltype of material is of course well known in the box industry and consists primarily of separated layers of paper having a corrugated section disposed therebetween. In general this type of material may be made to suitably hinge or be folded by merely scoring the material by means of score or so-called hinge lines. The present invention is of course not limited to this particular type of material though it has been discovered that this material is both inexpensive and particularly well adapted to the type of wall assembly under consideration.

Opposed side walls 12 comprise separate panels 13 Mice y having longitudinaily extending adjacent edge portions 14. A hinge flap 15 is provided tor each of the side walls 13, the said hinge tlap 15 being positioned over the adjacent edge portions 14 and being co-extensive therewith. The hinge liap 15 also comprise-s a hinge or score line 16 whereby the wall panels 13 may be readily and easily hinged inwardly as best shown in Figure 2. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2 the collapsible wall assembly 10 4is open at its ends. The normal use position for the said assembly is best shown in Figure 4. In order to properly reinforce the corners of the collapsible wall assembly 10, a plurality of tubular -tr-iangularly shaped corner supports 17 are provided. Each of the said corner supports 17 comprises a iirst wall 18 which is connected by glue or other means not shown to the panels 13 of each wall 12. A second wall 19 of each corner support 17 is in turn connected in the same manner to the walls 1.1.

The first and second walls of the corner supports 17 are suitably connected for hinging movement by means of score lines indicated at 20. A third wall of the tubular Support I17 is indicated at 21. Each third wa-ll 21 of each support 17 comprises a pair of sections 22 which are hingedly connected together along score or hinge line 23. As best shown in Figure 4 a top closure member is indicated at 24, the said closure member being placed over the upper end of the wall assembly 10 and a bottom or lower closure member 25 is placed over the lower end of the said wall assembly 10.

The normal in-us'e position of the collapsible wall assembly is shown in Figure 4. ln this case the wall assembly may be supported on the bottom or base 25, and after the material has been placed in the assembly the top closure member 24 may be suitably fastened to the assembly. Fig-ure 2 shows the assembly 10 in a preliminary or initial collapsing stage, and Figure 3 shows the position of the pants when the assembly is completely collapsed. In Figures 2 and 3 it will be noted that the tubular corner supports 17 are constructed to likewise collapse when the complete assembly is placed into the collapsed position. Collapse of the tubular members is afforded by parallel score lines 20, 23 and 26. Thus it is `apparent that the tubular members may be easily collapsed type may be supported one on top of the other and the .tubular supports act as primary supporting structures.

Thus it is obvious that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved and it must be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of Ithe invention as disclosed or the scope thereof as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A collapsible wall assembly for boxes, comprising a plurality of side walls disposed in rectangular relation, said side walls having hinged corner connections to provide a structure having oppositely disposed open ends, two of s-aid side walls disposed in opposed relation comprising separate panels, each panel having adjacent edge portions extending substantially parallel to the corner connections, va hinge member connecting the adjacent edge portions of the panels of each side wall whereby the said panels may be hingedly moved inwardly for collapsing said structure, corner supports for said structure comprising triangular-shaped tubular members disposed in the corners of said structure and coextensive with the side walls, said tubular members each having a rst wall connected to a panel and a second wall connected to an adjacent side wall, the -frst and second Walls of the tubular parallel to each other whereby said corner supports. maybe positioned in flat col-lapsed relation with the, inner surfaces of said sections in contiguous contact during collapse of said structure.

References-Citedinthe le of thispatentYY UNITED STATES PATENTS Dalsheimer Apr. 22, 1902 Carnahan Sept. 18, 1906 Dunning June 5, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 2, 1925 

